Adjustable easel

ABSTRACT

An easel for supporting a loose-leaf binder, a book, or other written matter on two clips on the easel face which is angularly adjustable through a wide range of angles with great ease. The easel is formed of a series of sections joined together with hinges and arranged for either upright operating position or collapsed folded position.

United States Patent Petersen [451 Aug. 8, 1972 [54] ADJUSTABLE EASEL3,305,206 2/ 1967 Nichols ..248/459 [72] lnventor: Earl L. Petersen 203East Hawthorne Boulevartl, Wheaton, lll. FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS60187 255,150 5/1912 Germany ..248/454 [22] Filed: y 10, 1970 10,7991897 Great Britain ..248/455 [21] Appl. No.: 53,939 PrimaryExaminer-Chancellor E. Harris Attorney-Snow and Benno [52] U.S.Cl..248/459 248/453 51 Int. Cl. A 171; 97/08 [571 ABSTRACT 0f An easel forsupporting a loose leaf binder a book or 248/1743 40/1521; 108/9 otherwritten matter on two clips on the easel face which is angularlyadjustable through a wide range of [56] References C'ted angles withgreat ease. The easel is formed of a series UNITED STATES PATENTS ofsections joined together with hinges and arranged f either u t ratin'tion 0 11 d 3,029,548 4/1962 Braha ..248/455 gf ef 8 or o apse2,503,015 4/1950 Weisheit ..248/453 7 3,410,516 11/1968 Criswell..248/459 8 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures mfmimus 8 I972 SHEET 1 OF 2 'EMF 1ADJUSTABLE rzxsrzr.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1 Field of the Invention The invention isdirected to an easel for holding a binder, book or other printed matteror indicia in an upright position for a person viewing, making frequentreference to, reading, studying, or copying the material thereon.

2. Description of the Prior Art Easels have been made in all sizes andshapes for many years. Most easels are of a fixed inclination but yetmany have been made with angularly adjustable capabilities. Most, if notall, such easels, had only a ledge or raised strip along the lower edgeto prevent material resting thereon from sliding off. Other easels havebeen made with great sophistication to either facilitate reading ortyping. Some are arranged to expose a single line of printed matter at atime.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a simple'easel for supporting a book, other printed matter, or other illustratedmaterial in any desired angle of inclination.

One principal object of this invention is to provide an easel which hasquick adjustability and can be folded to a collapsed compact package forease of shipment and storage.

Another principal object of this invention is the two clip holding meanswhich permits easy page tuming from their lower edges as well as theirupper edges without disturbing or moving the binder or book,the cover ofwhich is resting and semi-anchored in the two clips on the face of theeasel.

An important object of this invention is to provide an easel made of aseries of sections arranged in end-toend relationship and the sectionsjoined by intermediate hinges.

Another important object of this invention is that the two clip holdingmeans so amply grips binder or book covers that the easel will supportin position a wide range of binder sizes, including many which mayextend several inches beyond the'left and right edges or several inchesabove the upper edge of the easel.

Another important object of this invention is the maximum stabilitymaintained for all binder sizes and throughout all of the possiblefaceangle positions by the four legs or the four point resting contactedges.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of a noveleasel having a triangular shape in cross section with a front, a back,and a base.

An object as set forth in the preceding paragraph in which thetriangular back is formed of two overlapping sections and means joiningthe sections in any desired degree of overlap to affect the inclinationof the front of the easel.

Another important object as set forth in either of the two precedingparagraphs in which the base is formed of two sections which can be usedeither in overlapped or extended relationship to affect the inclinationof the front of the easel.

Other and further important objects and advantages will become apparentfrom the disclosures in the following specification and accompanyingdrawings.

m THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the easel of this inventionshown in flat, extended position.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the easel in operating position andshowing various adjustments in dash lines.

FIG. 4 is an end view of the easel of FIGS. 1 and 3 in 0 which it iscompactly folded for shipping or storage in a desk or compartment whennot in use.

AS SHOWN IN THE DRAWINGS The reference numeral 10 indicates generallythe easel of this-invention. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 the easelincludes a plurality of end-to-end arranged sections 11, 12, 13, 14, and15. The sections are preferably all made of a plastic-material which hassubstantial joined by intermediate hinge members which permit thefolding of the easel in many relationships. For ease of folding and toeffect unimpaired standing of the easel the sections 12 and 15 areprovided with transverse notches 20 and 21 at the position of the hingesl7 and 18 respectively. The centrally located notch 20 defines short legmembers 22 and 23 at the outer edges of the section 12. Similarly thecentrally located notch 21 defines short leg members 24 and 25 at theouter edges of the section 15.

- The extreme end sections 11 and 15 constitute the back of the easel10. The first back section ll depends generally downwardly andrearwardly while the second back section 15 projects upwardly andsomewhat forwardly. The sections 11 and 15 overlap and it is at theseoverlapping portions that the sections are adjustably held together inany desired relationship. When the ease] is folded up for use as in FIG.3 the legs 24 and 25 of the end section 15 constitute the rear supportfor the easel.

Section 12 adjacent the end section 11 constitutes the front or face ofthe book supporting easel of this invention. When the easel is folded upfor use as in FIG. 3 the spaced apart short legs 22 and 23 of the frontsection 12 constitute the front support for the easel. Spaced apartsupporting brackets or clips 26 and 27 form a part of the front face 12of the easel. These may be formed integrally with the face or may beseparately formed and cemented, welded or otherwise fastened at 28 and29 to and adjacent the lower edge of the front face of the easel. Whenformed integrally with the face there may beholes approximately the samewidth and height as supporting clips 26 and 27 in the front face 12directly behind or under those clips. The brackets are designed tosupport a book or reference binder by its cover in an open position orto support sheets for viewing, copying, or studying, or the like. Thebook cover supporting crotches 26a and 27a of the spaced brackets are ingenerally horizontal alignment and at a position spaced above the baseof the easel. This permits a user to turn the pages of a book carried inthe easel from the bottom.

The other intermediate contiguous sections 13 and 14 constitute the baseof the easel. Together with the front and back members, the base forms atriangle in cross section or in end elevation as viewed in FIG. 3. Thefull line showing of the device of FIG. 3 has the second base section 14folded back about its hinge 18 so that it overlies the first basesection 13. In this position the back sections 11 and are generallyvertically disposed so that the easel triangle is generally a righttriangle and the easel face is in its most upright position. When thesecond base section 14 is extended in end-to-end relationship as shownin dash lines A in FIG. 3 the front face is automatically inclined asubstantial degree without changing the relationship of the backsections 11 and 15.

As shown in FIG. 1 the first back section 11 is provided with anelongated slot 30. The slot is substantially centrally disposed in avertical path when the section -l1 depends from the top of the easel asshown in FIG.

3. A bolt 31 is adapted to have its threaded shank 31a pass through theelongated slot 30 in the first back section 11. An enlarged head 32prevents the entire bolt from coming through the plastic section 1 1. Acooperative nut-knob 33 threadedly engages the bolt 31. A hole I 34 inthe second back section 15 is adapted to receive passage of the threadedshank 31a. By drawing up tightly on the knob 33 the first and secondback sections may be adjustably held in any desired relation of overlap.This adjustment, illustrated by dash lines B in FIG. 3, causes a changein the angle of inclination of the front face 12 of the easel 10. Itshould also be understood that the back sections 11 and 15 may beadjusted when the base members are either in an overlapping relationshipor an extended relationship. This provides for an infinite number ofadjustable positions of the front face of the easel. A big shift ineasel inclination is accomplished when the base members are overlappedor extended as previously described.

A hole 35, elongated in a generally vertical direction, is provided atthe upper center of the front face section 12. The hole is positioned sothat when the easel is folded or collapsed for shipping or storage thenutknob 33 passes loosely therethrough. The width of the elongated hole35 is slightly greater than the diameter of the knob 33. This provisionfor passage of the knob permits greater compact folding and thus easiershipment or storage.

In the operation of the easel of this invention the hinge connectedseries of sections is folded as in FIG. 3 and the angle of inclinationof the front face 12 adjusted as desired. When the easel is to be storedor shipped the easel is collapsed or folded in to a position with thesections in overlying relationship as shown in FIG. 4.

What is claimed is:

1. An easel comprising a face for supporting an object in an inclinedposition, a first back member hinged to the top edge of the easel faceand generally depending downwardly and rearwardly from the upper edge ofthe face, a first base member hinged to the bottom edge of the easelface and extending generally horizontally rearwardly, a second basemember hinged to the rearward edge of the first base member, a secondback member hinged to the edge of the second base member opposite thehinge attachment of the second base member to the first base member,said second back member generally projecting upwardly and at leastpartially overlapping the first back member, means joining said firstand second back members in any selected overlapping relationship tochange the angular inclination of the easel face, and utilizing thesecond base member in a position folded back on the first base member toposition the easel face in a more upright position or in an extendedposition with the first base member to position the easel face in a moreinclined position.

2. An easel as set forth in claim 1 in which said means joining thefirst and second back members comprises said first back member having acentrally disposed elongated slot in a generally vertical position whenthe first back member depends from its upper hinge, a headed bolt membercentrally disposed in said second back member and adapted to have itsthreaded shank pass through said slot in the first back member, and acooperative nut-knob to engage the threaded shank.

3. An easel as set forth in claim 2 in which said easel face has a holetherein arranged for axial alignment with the bolt member when the easelis folded in a compact arrangement, whereby the head of the bolt memberpasses through the axially aligned hole to facilitate the compactfolding of the easel.

4. An easel comprising a face for supporting an object in an inclinedposition, spaced clip means on the face near the lower edge for grippingan object supported by the face, a first back member hinged to the topedge of the easel face and generally depending downwardly and rearwardlyfrom the upper edge of the face, a first base member hinged to thebottom edge of the easel face and extending generally horizontallyrearwardly, a second base member hinged to the rearward edge of thefirst base member, a second back member hinged to the edge of the secondbase member opposite the hinge attachment of the second base member tothe first base member, said second back member generally projectingupwardly and at least partially overlapping the first back member, meansjoining said first and second back members in any selected overlappingrelationship to shange the angular inclination of the easel face, andutilizing the second base member in a position folded back on the firstbase member to position the easel face in a more upright position or inan extended position with the first base member to position the ease]face in a more inclined position.

5. An easel as set forth in claim 4 in which the spaced clip means aregenerally horizontally disposed and having book supporting crotchesspaced above the base of the easel whereby book pages may be easilygrasped and turned by a user from the bottom of the easel.

6. An easel comprising a series of five sections arranged end-to-end andeach of said sections joined to its adjacent section by hinge means, thetwo extreme end sections together constituting an easel back, one ofsaid intermediate sections immediately adjacent one of said end sectionsconstituting an easel face, the other two of said contiguousintermediate sections disposed between the easel face and the other ofsaid end sections constituting an easel base, and means joining saidback sections in selected overlapping relationship.

7. An easel as set forth in claim 6 in which said contiguousintermediate base sections can be arranged so one of said sectionsoverlaps the other of said sections or so that said sections areextended in end-to-end relav tionship.

8. An easel as set forth in claim 7 in which said series of sections canbe folded in a collapsed state for ease of 5 shipment of the easel.

1. An easel comprising a face for supporting an object in an inclinedposition, a first back member hinged to the top edge of the easel faceand generally depending downwardly and rearwardly from the upper edge ofthe face, a first base member hinged to the bottom edge of the easelface and extending generally horizontally rearwardly, a second basemember hinged to the rearward edge of the first base member, a secondback member hinged to the edge of the second base member opposite thehinge attachment of the second base member to the first base member,said second back member generally projecting upwardly and at leastpartially overlapping the first back member, means joining said firstand second back members in any selected overlapping relationship tochange the angular inclination of the easel face, and utilizing thesecond base member in a position folded back on the first base member toposition the easel face in a more upright position or in an extendedposition with the first base member to position the easel face in a moreinclined position.
 2. An easel as set forth in claim 1 in which saidmeans joining the first and second back members comprises said firstback member having a centrally disposed elongated slot in a generallyvertical position when the first back member depends from its upperhinge, a headed bolt member centrally disposed in said second backmember and adapted to have its threaded shank pass through said slot inthe first back member, and a cooperative nut-knob to engage the threadedshank.
 3. An easel as set forth in claim 2 in which said easel face hasa hole therein arranged for axial alignment with the bolt member whenthe easel is folded in a compact arrangement, whereby the head of thebolt member passes through the axially aligned hole to facilitate thecompact folding of the easel.
 4. An easel comprising a face forsupporting an object in an inclined position, spaced clip means on theface near the lower edge for gripping an object supported by the face, afirst back member hinged to the top edge of the easel face and generallydepending downwardly and rearwardly from the upper edge of the face, afirst base member hinged to the bottom edge of the easel face andextending generally horizontally rearwardly, a second base member hingedto the rearward edge of the first base member, a second back memberhinged to the edge of the second base member opposite the hingeattachment of the second base member to the first base member, saidsecond back member generally projecting upwardly and at least partiallyoverlapping the first back member, means joining said first and secondback members in any selected overlapping relationship to shange theangular inclination of the easel face, and utilizing the second basemember in a position folded back on the first base member to positionthe easel face in a more upright position or in an extended positionwith the first base member to position the easel face in a more inclinedposition.
 5. An easel as set forth in claim 4 in which the spaced clipmeans are generally horizontally disposed and having book supportingcrotches spaced above the base of the easel whereby book pages may beeasily grasped and turned by a user from the bottom of the easel.
 6. Aneasel comprising a series of five sections arranged end-to-end and eachof said sections joined to its adjacent section by hinge means, the twoextreme end sections together constituting an easel back, one of saidintermediate sections immediately adjacent one of said end sectionsconstituting an easel face, the other two of said contiguousintermediate sections disposed between the easel face and the other ofsaid end sections constituting an easel base, and means joining saidback sections in selected overlapping relationship.
 7. An easel as setforth in claim 6 in which said contiguous intermediate base sections canbe arranged so one of said sections overlaps the other of said sectionsor so that said sections are extended in end-to-end relationship.
 8. Aneasel as set forth in claim 7 in which said series of sections can befolded in a collapsed state for ease of shipment of the easel.